Text: Exodus 32:15-19
Memory verse:
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.”
‭‭I Peter‬ ‭5‬:‭8‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Today, we will consider the post-fasting and prayer experiences of two people in the Bible.
First is Moses. God had earlier informed him while still on the mountain, of His displeasure at how the Israelites had made a golden calf, worshipped and sacrificed to it. Moses interceded for the people and turned away the wrath of God. However, on descending and seeing the people, Moses was enraged and smashed the God-made and God-handwritten tablets (Exod‬ ‭32‬:‭19‬). The tablets were later replaced but with that which was cut with the hands of Moses and rewritten by God (Exo 31:18; 34:1).
What about our Lord Jesus? Having fasted and prayed for forty days, He was hungry. Then the devil came. ‭‭(Luke‬ ‭4‬:‭2‬-‭3‬). Who would have expected that, after forty days of fervent fasting and prayer, any devil would still show up! However, Jesus succeeded where Moses failed. Where the law fails to win over sin, grace wins. Receive grace to win in Jesus name.
Out of anger, Moses lost the original tablets and replaced them with copies; the best replaced with the good; and the perfect replaced with the permissive! Friends, be sensitive after fasting and prayer. Be alert. Don’t be ignorant of the devices of the devil. Don’t let him devour you. Moses lost what was in his hand which he received from the presence of God. Do you know that what you have asked for during fasting and prayer are already in your hands? Don’t let the devil steal them from your hands. Moses wasted the forty days to return to the mountain for the same thing. Don’t let the devil waste your sacrifices through uncontrolled temper, emotion and actions.
Watch out also for temptations. The devil may present to you attractive alternatives or options to the will of God. For example, if you have prayed for a marriage partner, he might present a caring married man to you. Beware of the poison that looks like pancake! Beware of the angel of darkness that comes like the angel of light and the wolf in sheep clothing! Beware of the old prophet that tells you to follow another route but a death trap! Beware of deadly shortcuts of becoming rich which present themselves as blessings of the Lord! Beware of self-help approach which shuts God out of one’s life (2 Cor 11:14; 1 Kgs 13:15-19, 23-25; Prov 14:12)
May your sacrifices of fasting and prayer never be wasted in Jesus name.

Prayer points
1. Father, I receive Your grace to remain spiritually sensitive and to win every post-fasting and prayer temptations in Jesus name.
2. I refuse to allow the devil to waste my sacrifices in fasting and prayer in Jesus name.

Today’s declarations
1. I am coming down from the mountain of fasting and prayer with my answers in my hands and the devil can’t steal them from me
2. As long as I remain under grace and not under the law, that is, self-confidence, I win over every temptation.

Contact: pastor@thf.org.ng